Written question asked by Jim Cousins (Labour) on Thursday, 25 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 June 2006. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Friday, 16 June 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Degree Subjects

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher education institutions offered (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) biology and (d) chemistry-related degrees in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06.

Answer

The latest available data are shown in the following table. Data for the academic year 2005-06 will become available at the beginning of 2007.

Number of HE institutions with students enrolled on first degree courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in 2003-04 and 2004-05
	2003-04	2004-05
Mathematical Sciences¹	106	106
Of which:
Mathematics	105	102

Physical Sciences²	116	116
Of which:
Physics	68	61
Chemistry	82	80

Biological Sciences³	125	125
Of which:
Biology	111	110
¹ Mathematical Sciences include disciplines such as statistics and operational research in addition to mathematics courses.
² Physical sciences include disciplines such as geography, geology, materials science, forensics and archaeology in addition to physics and chemistry courses.
³ Biological Sciences include disciplines such as microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology in addition to biology courses.
Notes:
Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December each year.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Secondary information